VPI Industries Shyla Cartridge

VPI Shyla Cartridge

Built in Japan by Audio-Technica, Voice by VPI: Shyla Dual Moving-Coil Phono Cartridge Plays with High Separation, Wide Responsiveness, Enticing Presence, and a Natural Midrange

Inspired by Audio-Technica's flagship ART Series, and a collaboration between the iconic Japanese cartridge manufacturer and the analog experts at VPI, the Shyla dual moving-coil cartridge combines expert design and natural, musical voicing focused on the midrange while also dialed-in to provide strong, deep lows and detailed highs. Featuring a premium magnetic core, special line contact stylus, and 0.26mm-diameter solid boron cantilever, Shyla proves a fantastic tracker that refuses to lose its composure even during challenging passages. Once it hit the grooves of an LP, this premium, high-separation, wide-response model reproduces music with enticing presence, imaging, liveliness, and dynamics.

On the technical side, Shyla boasts all the elements that have helped make both Audio-Technica and VPI renowned names in the high-end industry for decades. As such, Shyla's coils and terminal pins use PCOCC to maintain exceptional purity and conductivity. Its neodymium magnet and permendur yoke significantly increase magnetic energy, while the rated 0.6mV output speaks to its powerful performance.

Shyla's exterior construction is equally important. Modified with advanced internal dampening, its mold ensures exceptional stability and rigidity, limiting unnecessary coil movement and reducing distortion. Similarly, its machined aluminum/hard plastic hybrid body further lessens resonance. Last but not least, the presence of threaded holes allows for easy, hassle-free mounting.

Partnerships between revered high-end companies don't come better than Audio-Technica and VPI. Hear Shyla and experience why.

The Story Behind Shyla

Named after VPI owner Mat Weisfeld's daughter, Shyla came about from VPI's desire to have a high-performance MC cartridge for under $2,000 with the company's name on it – a cartridge that captures the sound, experience, and quality VPI values when enjoying music. When listening to Audio-Technica ART Series cartridges, Mat and VPI founder Harry Weisfeld got an idea for a collaboration with Audio-Technica. After an initial conversation, the companies strove to create a product founded on AT's long history of cartridge design complemented by VPI's voicing and natural/musical sound. Harry and Mat first met the AT design team in Munich, after which an initial prototype was developed. Mat followed up with a second trip to AT's home base in Japan to continue the communication and design for the cartridge. During the visit, VPI toured the AT sound room and research-and-development facility where the cartridge would be subjected to the highest level of quality and compliance testing.